IN SENATE.
THURSDAY, March 7,1861.The PRESIDENT called the Senate to order at 9 o'clock.
At 10:20 o'clock, the Senate adjourned till 11 o'clock, when the PRESIDENT again called Senators to order.
At 11:30 o'clock, the call of the Senate, commenced yesterday afternoon, was proceeded with, and the PRESIDENT announced 41 Senators as present.
On motion of Mr. WAGNER, further proceedings in the call were dispensed with.
On motion by Mr. WAGNER, the further consideration of the Congressional Apportionment bill was postponed till to-morrow, at 2 o'clock.
On motion by Mr. WAGNER, the bill [H. R. 336], making general appropriations for the years 1861 and 1862 was taken up, read the first time, the rules suspended-yeas 42, nays 0-the bill read the second time by title only, and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. NEWCOMB submitted instructions to the committee to strike out "$3,000" for contingent fund, and insert "6,000" for this year: $1,000 for the Governor's House this year, and "$4,000" for the contingent fund of 1862 instead of "$3,000."
Mr. ANTHONY submitted instructions to strike out "$14,000," appropriated for the prison south, and insert "$20,000."These instructions were referred to the committee.
On motion by Mr. HAMILTON, the Senate concurred in the House amendment to his bill [107] for the relief of Michael O'Brien.
Mr. WAGNER submitted a communication from Talbott & Costigan, contractors of the northern prison, proposing to surrender their contract in consideration of their being paid $13,574 27 and $5,298 50, which was laid on the table, awaiting the printing of the State Prison Committee's report.
Mr. MELLETT offered a concurrent resolution, rescinding the above contract, and declaring it to be null and void.
Mr. TARKINGTON. The word "fraudulently" is in that resolution, and I move to strike that word out.
Mr. MELLETT. When he strikes that word out of the resolution, he strikes out all that there is in it.
The resolution was laid on the table.
Mr. WAGNER offered a concurrent resolution, accepting the proposition of the contractors, and directing the Committee on Finance to make provision in the appropriation bills for the sums of money-named ; which was also laid on the table.
And then came the recess till 2 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Reports from Committees were made and concurred in as follows:
- By Mr. MELLETT: Judiciary-returning the bill H. R. 129-see page 121 of these Reports-recommending pas-sage.
- By Mr. DE HART: Judiciary-returning the Senate bill [176] regulating the granting of pardons, recommending that it lie on the table.
- By Mr. MARCH: Judiciary-returning his bill [273] recommending passage.
A message from the House, inviting the Senate to a joint convention at two o'clock, for the purpose of electing three Directors of the Northern State Prison and one Director of the Southern State Prison, was received and concurred in.
- By Mr. CULVER: County and Township Business-returning the bill H. R. 76-see page 72 of these Reports-recommending passage.
- By Mr. ODELL: Select Committee-returning his bill 89 establishing Probate Courts, recommending passage.
- By Mr. MILLER: Select Committee-returning the bill H. R. 263-see page 255 of these Reports-recommending that it lie on the table.
- By Mr. NEWCOMB: Select Committee-returning his bill 145-see page 185 of these Reports-recommending passage with amendments.
- By Mr. CLAYPOOL: Finance-returning Senator Newcomb's bill 69-see page 89-recommending passage with amendments.
On motion, by Mr CLAYPOOL, the rules were suspended, the bill read the third time and finally passed by yeas 37, nays 8.
Mr. ANTHONY offered a joint resolution authorizing the State Librarian to make and publish a catalogue of the Indiana State Library for the years 1861-2, and procure the necessary book-binding for said Library; which was rejected by yeas 14, nays 27.
An invitation from the House desiring the attendance of Senators instanter on the joint convention, was accepted and the Senate left the Chamber for that purpose. On the return of Senators-
The bill [H. R. 283] to provide for the payment of the interest on the State debt due January, 1861, was read the third time and finally passed by yeas 43, nays 0.
The bill [H. R. 346] was read the first time, the rules suspended-yeas 46, nays 0-and the bill read the second time by title only.
Mr. NEWCOMB moved to amend by striking out 'five " cents and inserting in lieu thereof "two" cents as the amount of tax to be levied for the years after this year to liquidate the State debt.
The motion was agreed to by yeas 36, nays 10.The bill was referred to the Finance Committee.
Senator Shield's bill 87see page 105 of these Reports-was read the third time.
Mr. SHIELDS. This bill is one that contemplates taking $1,000 out of the Swamp Land Fund of Jackson county. It is well understood there, and will be the means of draining hundreds of acres of swamp lands.
The bill finally passed-yeas 31, nays 14.
Senator Line's bill 54-see pages 69, 171, and 192 of these Reports-was read the third time and finally passed, by yeas 33, nays 14.
Mr. STEELE, from the Committee on Banks, returned the bill H. R. 62, with a report that the committee were unable to agree.
Mr. STEELE said the committee were equally divided. He thought the measure a just one, and hoped it would be passed.
Mr. MELLETT moved to indefinitely post-pone the bill.
Mr. CONNER made an ineffectual motion-yeas 22, nays 26-to lay this motion on the table.
The motion to postpone indefinitely was rejected by yeas 22, nays 22.
On motion by Mr. MARCH-yeas 25, nays 22-the bill was laid on the table.
Senator March's bill 1-see pages 6, 74, and 226 of these Reports-was read the third time.
Mr. MARCH. As originally introduced, this bill embraced State as well as county officers, but afterwards amended so as to include township officers. All that part in relation to State officers has been stricken out. This is simply an embezzlement bill, upon the same principles as the one we have passed.
Mr. CLAYPOOL. If this bill is passed, there ought to be an appropriation for the purchase of safes for every county and township officer in the State. Senators ought to consider before passing this bill. It will create an annoyance and disturbance throughout the whole system.
Mr. WAGNER. The object of this bill is to lock up money all over this State. Our people are sufficiently oppressed with hard times now and such a bill as this should not be passed at this time. I move to indefinitely postpone the bill.
The motion was agreed to, by yeas 25, nays 19.
Mr. WAGNER, from the Committee on Finance, returned the bill H. R. 336 with amendments, appropriating $15,000 for the salary of officers of the State's prison north, and $14,000 for the current expenses of the prison south for the year 1862. Also, making the contingent fund "$5,000" instead of "$1,000," and allowing $1,200 for furniture for the Governor's house.
Mr. TEEGARDEN moved to concur in the committee's report, with an amendment appropriating $50,000 for the purpose of furnishing material to prosecute the work on the northern State prison for the years 1861 and 1862.
On motion by Mr. JOHNSON, this amendment was laid on the table-yeas 30, nays 16.
Mr. TEEGARDEN moved to concur with an amendment appropriating $1,000 for the purpose of procuring wrought iron bedsteads for the Insane Hospital.
This motion was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. WAGNER, the bill was considered as engrossed, and read the third time.
Mr. BEARSS moved to recommit with instructions to amend by striking out u $15,000 " where it occurs as an appropriation for the Northern Prison, and insert "$10,000."
Mr. LANDERS submitted further instructions to strike out all that relates to appropriating money to furnish the Governor's house.
Mr. TURNER moved to lay these motions on the table.
A division of the question being called for-
page: 352[View Page 352]The motion to recommit was laid on the table by yeas 25, nays 14.
Mr. WAGNER demanded the previous question, and the motion being seconded by 30 Senators, the bill finally passed by yeas 30, nays 13.
The Senate took a recess till 7 1/2 o'clock.
NIGHT SESSION.
The bill H. R. 294 was read the first time, the rules suspended-yeas 34, nays 2-read the second time by title only, and ordered engrossed for a third reading to-morrow.
The bill [H. R. 64], to authorize aliens to hold lands in the State of Indiana by purchase or otherwise, was read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 36, nays 1.
On motion by Mr. FERGUSON, the bill [H. R. 236] to revise the act incorporating the Alton, Mount Carmel and N. A. R. R. Co., &c., was read the first time, the rules suspended-yeas 86, nays 1-read the second time by title only, and referred to the Committee on Corporations.
On motion by Mr. WILLIAMS, the bill [H. R. 42], having reference to the sale of a county seminary in Gibson county, was read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 26, nays 10.Senator Stone's bill 194see page 237 of these Reports-was read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 34, nays 4.
The bill H. R. 186 was read the second time and ordered engrossed.
Senator White's Northern Prison bill 278 was read the second time, and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. WAGNER, from the Committee on Finance, returned the bill H. R. 346, in relation to applying certain funds for the liquidation of the State debt, and raising revenue for the support of common schools-recommending passage, with the amendments thereto proposed by Senator Newcomb this afternoon. The report was concurred in, the bill read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 30, nays 11.
On motion by Mr. BEARSS, his bill 249-page 289was read the third time, [he said it makes a change in the law by not requiring a license for pay concerts, exhibitions of statuary or works of art,] and finally passed by yeas 37, nays 4.
On motion by Mr. NEWCOMB, the bill H. R. 133, was read the first time, the rules suspended-yeas 35, nays 7-read the second time by title only, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
On motion by Mr. TARKINGTON, the proposition of Talbott & Costigan, submitted this forenoon, was taken from the table.
Mr. TARKINGTON moved its reference to the Finance Committee.
Mr. BEARSS moved to refer it to the State Prison Committee.
On motion by Mr. MURRAY, this motion was laid on the table.
It was referred to the Finance Committee.
On motion by Mr. WAGNER, the resolutions were taken up, and took the same reference.
On motion by Mr. ROBINSON, the Bridge bill II. R. 103 was read, and finally passed by yeas 35, nays 4.
Senator Wagners bill 218see page 252 on his motion, was read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 31, nays 8.
On motion by Mr. TEEGARDEN, his bill 120-see page 163 of these Reports-was read the third time, [he said the object of this bill was to enable cities to run their governments without going into debt,] and finally passed by yeas 30, nays 10.Mr. BLAIR, from the Committee on Finance. returned the bill [S. 248], requiring the State printer to furnish paper, &c.. recommending passage. The report was concurred in.
On motion by Mr. DEHART, the bill was read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 33, nays 7.
On motion by Mr. TARKINGTON, his bill [100], to create the 14th judicial circuit, was read the third time.
This bill was rejected by yeas 15, nays 24.
Senator Wagner's Book-Binding bill 172-see page 212 of these Reports-was read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 36, nays 0.
On motion by Mr. MILLER, his bill 237-described on page 272-was read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 35, nays 0.
Senator Cobb's bill 184 (see page 226) was read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 33, nays 1.
And then the Senate adjourned.
